Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaks to the media next to a display of assault weapons on Thursday while
unveiling legislation to ban such weapons and high-capacity magazines. Getty Images

WASHINGTON 
Congressional Democrats unveiled legislation Thursday to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines like those used in the school massacre at Newtown, Conn., even as they acknowledged an uphill battle getting the measures through a divided Congress.

The group led by California’s Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein called on the public to get behind their effort, saying that is the only way they would prevail over opposition from the well-organized National Rifle Association and its congressional allies.

“This is really an uphill road. If anyone asked today, ‘Can you win this?’ the answer is, ‘We don’t know, it’s so uphill,’” Feinstein said at a Capitol Hill news conference backed by police chiefs, mayors and crime victims. “There is one great hope out there. And that is you, because you are stronger than the gun lobby. You are stronger than the gun manufacturers. But only if you stand up.”

In addition to NRA opposition, Feinstein and her supporters must face the Republican-controlled House, where leaders have shown scant interest in gun measures. Perhaps even more daunting, fellow Democrats from rural states where voters strongly support gun rights have deep concerns about her measure.

Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has expressed skepticism the assault weapons ban could get through Congress. Some gun control advocacy groups are focusing their attention instead on expanding background checks, which is seen as more doable politically.

In California, supporters include Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and the mayors of several other cities, including Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.

Thomas Del Beccaro, chairman of the California Republican Party, echoing the NRA, said gun-control laws do not to address the role mental illness has played in mass shootings.

“That discussion is not being held, and we need to talk about it,” he said. “We need to talk more about mental health.”

Feinstein’s legislation comes a week after President Barack Obama unveiled a package of gun control measures including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and it marks the start of tense congressional debate with no certain conclusion.

The legislation is written comprehensively to cover rifles, pistols and handguns with one of any military-style features like detachable stock, pistol grips or grenade launchers. It also bans 157 specific firearms, while excluding 2,258 hunting and sporting rifles and shotguns. It also would ban magazines that accept more than 10 rounds.

Feinstein aimed to strengthen the previous assault weapons ban she authored, which expired in 2004 when Congress failed to renew it. Original passage of that bill in 1994 was blamed for costing Democrats control of the House and Senate after they supported it. There is also considerable debate about its effectiveness during the years it was in effect, in part because of loopholes that allowed gun manufacturers to work around it. Feinstein’s new version is more comprehensive in defining what kinds of weapons are banned.

The NRA responded that the new bill would infringe on the constitutional right to bear arms and instead the focus should be on prosecuting criminals and improving the country’s mental health system.